Bowling fundraiser to be held for Shelby accident victim

By
Mitch Hotts, The Macomb Daily

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Friends and relatives of a young man from Shelby Township who was involved in a motorcycle accident are hosting a bowling party to help raise funds for him to pay his bills as he recuperates from his injuries.

Nick Manzo, 25, of Shelby Township, suffered severe trauma to his head in the collision and had to have six titanium plates implanted during maxillofacial surgery. He’s lost vision in his right eye and can’t return to work as a server at Bath City Bistro in Mount Clemens for several months.

That’s why the owners and staff at Bath City have organized the bowling fundraiser that will start at 7 p.m. Friday at Apollo Lanes in Roseville.

“We know that he can’t work for the next six months while he recuperates,” said Corrine O’Connell, a server at Bath City. “Everyone here loves him so we wanted to try to do something to help him out .”

Manzo, a graduate of Utica High School, was riding his motorcycle on March 30 on Gratiot Avenue south of Metropolitan Parkway when he was struck by a motorist at an intersection. He doesn’t remember anything about the incident.

He works as a server at Bath City, where his mother, Joanne, is a bartender. He also is studying audio engineering at Macomb Community College and hopes to land a career working sound equipment at concert venues in the music industry.

“I am grateful for everyone getting together to help keep me in my apartment and pay my bills,” Manzo said. “It’s hard to find people like that.”

O’Connell is working with a committee made up of Nick’s sister, Theresa Manzo, along with Kim Noe and her husband, Vern, on the fundraiser.

Admission for Friday’s event is $20 in advance, $25 at the door, and includes three games of bowling, bowling shoes, and food donated by Bath City.

There also will be 50/50 raffles and raffles for gift baskets that include gift certificates for oil changes from Moran Chevrolet, food from Bath City, and a room at the Greektown Casino Hotel, along with an autographed Detroit Red Wings hockey stick.

Apollo Lanes is located at 29410 Gratiot Ave., north of 12 Mile Road, Roseville. To make donations or for more information call 586-469-0917.